Has anyone else had difficulty interpreting magazine's directions.
Am now making a huge Star top and directions just say cut
so many pieces of this/that/and other fabrics, not really
giving block diagrams with lettered pieces. Old age is making
this a real challenge.

not only in magazines, but the purse pattern shopping list was written so poorly that i could have made 2 purses from the list given

I recently made a tote bag from a magazine and the fabric requirements made it nearly impossible to cut the number of pieces in the size you needed and have enough fabric...Spent half the afternoon measuring and trying to figure out how to get enough pieces from the amount of fabric I had purchased...

I recently made a purse and while following the pattern I kept thinking of that old Gary Larson cartoon where it says "and then a miracle occurred." It took me about twelve times of REALLY reading the directions to figure out what was required for that step!

I can relate to that. Sometimes I think patterns are designed by folks who have no knowledge of sewing or fabric. For example one bag pattern had a step where you would be sewing thru 8 layers of fabric plus the interfacing and batting. No way a home sewing machine could handle this.

double post.

not only mags and purses but quilt patterns as well.

I'm making a quilt from a pattern and the directions say "cut 5 inches by LOF" Length of fabric. Well my fabric may be 1 yard or 5 yards. I had to sit there and figure out the length of each section, multiply by the number of sections needed, add some inches for cutting error (which I never make LOL) and then cut it. I understand WOF; they may have to change that soon too since the widths seem to be getting narrower. I've never seen LOF before. Unless you purchased the fabric in the amounts listed, I think a newer quilter would have had trouble cutting this pattern out correctly. Keep your fingers crossed that I did!!

I have to really study the patterns. I don't have an engineering type mind.

JANRN,

LOF helps the borders to lay flat and not curl. And these pieces are usually cut first. The pattern should say that.

Just an FYI if you need it.

Quilter68

Thanks, quilter68. I usually cut my borders first but this was for block sections. I kept thinking "how do they know what LOF I have?". I'd have rather have the directions say cut 5 pieces 5" x 20". I was using fabrics from my stash and had no idea of the LOF until I measured it; it was usually 2-3 yds so I'd have ended up with a lot of extra pieces. I like basic, simple directions. Hate doing the math LOL!!